Inflation apparatus



Au Ti, 19 43.- w. HL-HUNTER v 2,327,046

INFLATION APPARATUS Filed April 10, 1941 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l A- M Aug.17, 1943. w UN ER INFLATION APPARATUS 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Filed April 10,1941 27 Ez77Z7F 1727/5027 HEN/EAL Patented Aug. 17, 1943 2,327,046INFLATION APPARATUS Willson H. Hunter, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B.F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation or New YorkApplication. April 10, 1941, Serial No. 387,827

Claims.

This invention relates to inflation apparatus, suitable for example forice elimination on wings, airfoils, and other surfaces of aircraft, andthe invention pertains especially to valve mechanism for distributingthe inflating medium to the inflation units and for controlling theinflation and deflation in cyclic operation.

In the copending application of Myron L. Taylor, Serial No. 314,619,filed January 19, 1940, now Patent No. 2,251,430, granted August 5,1941, for Inflation system and apparatus for operating the same, thereis disclosed a system of inflation control wherein a motor driven valvecontrols the operation of inflating units in three phase cycles, eachcycle consisting of a pressure phase to inflate the unit, an exhaustingphase to deflate the unit and a suction phase to assure completecollapse of the unit. Between inflations each unit is held on suctionfor the major part of the cycle while other units are undergoingpressure and exhausting phases, such suction being maintained from asuction source such as the suction side of the pressure pump, and owingto the extensive suction required a considerable burden has been placedupon the pump to supply the suction in addition tothe air underpressure.

Control of the prior distributor valve was effected by means of a mastervalve, manually operable, which required either a piping circuit betweenthe master valve and the distributing valve or location of the latternear the operator.

The chief objects of the present invention are to provide an improveddistributor valve mechanism, to provide for controlling the inflation,deflation and suction phases of each unit in a tirhed relation givingimproved operation of the inflation unit for effecting ice removal witha reduction in the capacity requirement of the pump to maintain adequatesuction for effecting complete collapse of the unit; to provide acompact arrangement for developing suction on the inflation unit duringa small part of the cycle by utilizing the pressure supply from the pumpfor efiecting the suction; and to provide for effecting suction duringonly a small part of the cycle immediately following the exhaustingphase, it having been found that satisfactory operation of theinflatable unit can be eflectively maintained by merely a temporaryapplication of the suction.

Another object is to provide for maintaining a flow of warm air throughthe valve mechanism at all times, even its ofl position, so thatstarting and operating difficulties resulting from cold will, beavoided.

Further objects are to provide remote electrical control for startingand stopping the mechanism, and to provide for assuring stoppage of themechanism only in the desired position. It is desirable that themechanism be stopped only in a position from which a predetermined cycleof Operations may start, and provision is made to efiect this.

Still further objects are to provide a valve mechanism in which there isa minimum of wire drawing and resistance to flow of the airtherethrough, to provide for balancing the rotor against end thrust as aresult of the flow, to provide for compactness of structure, simplicityof construction, and facility of disassembly and assembly.

These and further objects will be apparent from the followingdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an airplane, shown in broken lines, withinflation units mounted upon the wings thereof, and upon thehorizontal'and vertical stabilizers together with a system of piping forcontrolling the inflation and deflation of the units.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a piping arrangement between supplypumps and a distributor mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 2 but showing a modifled arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of distributor mechanism constructedaccording to and embodying the invention.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. i.

Fig. 6 is a section taken alone. the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The improved distributor mechanism of the in"- vention, indicatedgenerally at NJ in Fig. 1, is utilized to distribute air under pressurefrom a source such as pumps H l I to inflatable units mounted upon partsof the aircraft vulnerabie to ice accumulation, and to control theinflationand deflation of these units in cycle operation, each cycleincluding a pressure phase for inflation, an exhaust phase for deflationand a suction phase for assuring complete collapse of the inflatableunits. Two inflatable units l2, l3 are shown on each wing, an inflatableunit 14 on each horizontal stabilizer, and an inflatable unit I5 uponeach vertical stabilizer in the embodiment of Fig. 1. The inflatableunits may be varied in number and disposition in accordance with thetype and size of the aircraft, and the units are preferably constructedof reinforced rubberlike material to provide distensible surfaces asdescribed more fully, for example, in Geer Pat" ent N0. 1398,5509.

Suitable pipe lines 55a, i527, itic, 95d, i166, 56f, 35g, Milt, lti, i6:1, connect the distributor v th each inflatable unit. Inasmuch. aseach inflation shoe on the wing may comprise more than'one inflationunit, or group of inflatable tubes, two such units Or groups being shownon each wine. for example, as in Fig. 1, two pipe lines extend from thedistributor to each shoe. One pipe line extends to the two horizontalstabilizers and one pipe line extends to the two vertical stabilizers,the inflation units for these stabilizers bein of relatively smallcapacity. Thus, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, ten outlets are required onthe distributor for connection to all the inflatable units. A pipe linell connects the air pumps H, which may be mounted in the motor nacellesand driven by such motors, to the dis-= tributor, check valves l8, l8preferably being mounted in such supply lines for safety, as in case ofbreakdown of one pump. The supply line may lead directly from the pumpsto the distributor mechanism ill asshown in the embodiment of Fig. 2,or, if desired, oil separators i9, i9 may be interposed between thepumps and the distributor mechanism as indicated in the modification ofFig. 3, the pipe line, indicated at H being otherwise the same as inFigs. 1 and 2.

As hereinabove stated, the arrangement shown n Fig. 1 requires tenoutlets at the distributor mechanism for connection to the teninflatable units. These ten outlets may be provided by the use of fiveT-connections 20, 2!], each having two fittings 2|, 2| for connectionsto the pipe lines in a manner to provide symmetrical operation of theinflation units on the two sides of the aircraft. In Fig. 4 theconnections to pipe lines IBc, l6h, are chosen for illustration, theoperation at the other of the five ports for the T-connections beingsimilar; It will be understood that the number, size and arran ement ofthe outlets may be varied as desired. The

T-shaped fittings 20, may be formed integrally as a group of five andconstitute a part of the housing of the distributor mechanism, whichhousing may be considered in three sections, 22 for the distributorrotor and ports, 23 for a central coupling section and 24 for a gearingsection, to the latter of which sections may be secured an electricalmotor 25. All these sections and the motor together with theirrespective parts and mechanisms may be detached one from another forinspection and repair.

- Referring'first to the rotor section, the casing 22 has a centralrotor chamber 26 and an adjacent exhaust chamber 21. The rotor chamber26 has five ports 28, 28, communicating with the five T-shaped fittings20, 20 and a Venturi port 29, the purpose of which will be explainedhereinafter.

A rotor 30 is mounted for rotation in the chamber 26 upon a horizontalaxis as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, the rotor having extensions 3| and 32for the mounting purpose and the bearings preferably beingself-lubricating and preferably being anti-friction bearings such asneedle bearings 33 mounted in casing section 22, and 34 mounted incasing section 23. The rotor is cored to provide a. pressure fluidpassage 35 leading from the left as shown in Fig. 4, axially of therotor and discharging at the periphery of the rotor at right angles tothe inlet passage. The inlet passage communicates with a pressure inletfitting in. connection with the pipe line H from the pumps.

The rotor has a second cored passage 31 having an inlet at the peripheryof the rotor adjacent the opening or the passage 35 in circumferentialalignment therewith and leading to an axial position of the rotor,discharging in a. direction to the right as seen in Fig. 4, into theexhaust chamber Ell, the rotor being apertured at 38, 38 to permitdischarge. The exhaust; chamber 21 'com munlcates with the atmospherethrough a port 39, or may be manifolded to the main pump exhaust line ormay be connected to an additional source of suction for more rapidexhausting. The construction is such that the cored passages may havedimensions as full as the ports and pipes, thereby reducing or avoidingthe effects of resistance by wiredrawing of the flowing air.

A suitable sealing member 40 is provided at the margins of the rotorperiphery, an end sealing member it may be provided at the pressureintake end, and sealing members 42, 43 and 44 may be provided to isolatethe rotor chamber 26 from the exhaust chamber 27 and the pressure inletH and from th outside. Such sealing members are preferably of aresilient material such as a synthetic rubber-like material, resistantto the effects of oil. Because the seals isolate the rotor chamber fromthe bearing and other parts that may have lubrication, no lubricant isrequired in the rotor chamber and the slug ishness of rotor operationcaused by oil at low temperatures is reduced or avoided.

Port 29 leads from the rotor chamber 25 to a Venturi device 45 whichdischarges to the at mosphere. At the throat of the venturi is provideda surrounding manifold 46 having apertures 41 communicating with theinterior of the throat. The manifold communicates also with a chamber 48leading back to the rotorchamber 26 through passages 49 and 50. In thechamber 48 is mounted a plug 5| having a check valve 52 and beingapertured at 53, the arrangement being such that a flow of air from therotor chamber 26 to the throat of the venturi can occur, but flow of airin the other direction is prevented by the check valve.

The right hand extension 32 of the rotor 30 in addition to having abearing in the casing at 34 has a flexible and detachable drivingconnection 54 with a shaft 55 which is mounted in antlfriction bearings56 in the casing 24 and has an oil seal 51. The shaft 55 has a. bearingat 58 in the casing and carries the notched wheel 59 of a Geneva-stopmechanism for rotating the rotor by quick-action and stop-motion. Thenotched wheel 59 is driven by a wheel 60 having an engaging pin 6|. Theshaft 62 of the wheel 60 is mounted in the upper part of the casing asshown and is driven from a shaft 63 of the motor 25 through worm andpinion reduction gearing, including worm 64, pinion 65, worm 66 andpinion 67, worm 64 being provided as an extension of a coupling 68 forthe motor shaft 63 and having a bearing at 69 within the end of shaft55. Coupling 68 has a bearing 10, and for resisting passage of lubricantfrom the gear case into the motor, an oil seal 57' may be provided.

With the wiring circuit shown in Fig. 4 the motor may be started bydepressing a. switch I! which starts the mechanism for continuedoperation so long as the switch II is closed. Upon opening the switch IIfor stopping the mechanism it is desired that the rotor 30 stop only inthe position in which it will discharge from the pressure line into theVenturl port 23-.- For this purpose an electric switch 12 is suitablymounted and connected in the circuit shunting the switch 3 l in themanner shown so that rotation 01' the motor will continue until thisswitch 12 is opened. Switch 12 is held depressed in its closed positionin all positions of the rotor except when the latter is in a position todischarge fluid into the Venturi port 29. This is eflected by means of aplunger 13 normally urged upward by a spring 14 and held downward by aslideable pin or detent 15 extending through the casing 23 and intoengagement with the shaft extension 32 of the rotor. At 16 the shaft 32is notched in a position aligned with the. discharge opening of passage35 in the rotor so that when the latter is in its lowermost position, asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, upward movement of the plunger 13 will bepermitted by entrance of the detent 15 into the notch it and switch 12will be opened in this position. If switch it is held closed switch 12will not be effective to break the circuit, but if switch II is openswitch l2 will operate to break the circuit to the motor at the positionof the rotor at which the air pressure passage 35 is in communicationwith the Venturi port 228.

The air under pressure enters the Venturi port only in the lowermostposition of the rotor. The rush oi air through the venturi lowers thepressure in the throat manifold 46 causing a suction in the rotorchamber 25 through passages 49 and and check valve chamber 43. In thisposition of the parts all five ports in communication with. theinflation units are open to rotor chamber 26 so that the suctionproduced in the venturi is applied to all the inflation units andassures complete collapse of the same if by chance they have not alreadybeen collapsed.

Between the last port at and the Venturi port it, the pressure port 35of the ,rotor will occupy a blank position while port 28 will exhaustthrough port M of the rotor. This gives time for such exhausting of thelast inflatable units before suction is applied. After leaving theVenturi port 29, the pressure port 35 of the rotor will have anotherblank position to regain full pressure in the pipe line, after thedischarge to atmosphere through the venturi, before the pressure port 35is again applied to the successive ports for inflating the units.

In the illustrative embodiment there are eight rotative positions forthe rotor 30 in a cycle of operation under control of the Geneva-stopbottom position to discharge air into the venturi and thereby createsuction in this position or the mechanism. The rotor stops in turn ateach of v the five ports which are in connection with the inflationunits, then at a blank position between the last'of such ports and theVenturi port 29, then at the Venturi port itself, then at a blank whichassures an accumulation of pressure before positioning the rotor at thefirst port of the inflation units. The pressure supply port 35 of therotor and the exhaust port 31 are at successive positions, the exhaustport trailing the pressure port, so that each of the inflation units issubjected in turn to a pressure application for inflation which isfollowed at the next position by exhausting to the atmosphere. Followingthe exhausting phase each inflation unit is left incommunication withthe rotor chamber 26, and therefore the atmosphere through the Venturitube 45 until the pressure passage 35 reaches the rotor, which suctionis applied to the rotor chamber 28, and thus to all the inflation unitsat once.

The operating cycle, in the illustrative embodiment, comprises eightintervals of time, which, if a cycle'is of, say, 40 seconds duration,will each consist of a time interval of five seconds. In the 40 secondcycle each inflation unit will be subjected to pressure for fiveseconds, then to exhaust to atmosphere for five seconds, which isfollowed .by the application of suction for flve seconds. Also, all theports, with the exception of the last port, are left open to atmospherewhile awaiting their turn for suction.

With this arrangement for applying suction to the inflating units foronly a small part of the operating cycle, it is found that collapse ofthe inflating units is maintained effectively so as not to result inobjectionable aerodynamic effects, and the required pump capacity forproducing suction is considerably reduced as compared to a system inwhich suction is applied throughout a considerable part of the operatingcycle.

Also, the requirements of weight and piping complexities are reduced.The arrangement of the flow passages in the rotor 30 are such that axialthrust of the pressure supply and exhaust are in opposite directions andtend to balance one another so that the necessity for end thrustbearings is avoided.

In the discharge position of the rotor at the Venturi port 28, flow ofair may be maintained without operation of the inflation units, to keepwarm air from. the pumps flowing through the valve mechanism. This hasthe advantage of keeping the mechanism Warm so that it will stick aswhen cold and will not hinder quick-starting.

The arrangement for electrical control permits mountingthe distributormechanism at a location in the aircraft remote from the pilot, andreduces ,the operation of the pilot or other operator to merely themanipulation of a single switch. Also, this electrical control makespossible ready operation by automatic devices, such as an automaticice-detector, in which case no attention by the crew is necessary foroperation by the ice-removal units. The construction hereinabovedescribed furthermore provides compactness of structure andaccessibility for overhaul.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas it is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from inflatableelements, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber, a rotor therein,means for rotating said rotor by quick-action, stopmotion to a pluralityof successive positions, said chamber having a plurality of ports atsuccessive circumferentially aligned positions for connection withrespective inflatable elements and an additional port at another of saidpositions, said rotor having a passage therein opening at the periphcryof the rotor for introducing air under pressure into said ports, saidrotor having a space in its periphery for placing some of said ports incommunication with the rotor chamber at some of said positions, andmeans in communication with said rotor chamber and said additional portfor applying suction to said chamber upon discharge of air underpressure through said rotor into said additional port.

2. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to causing stoppage of therotor only in a single position of the latter in which said opening isin communication with said second port.

3. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from inflatableelements, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber havingclrcumferentlally spaced ports for continuous communication with theinflatable elements and an additional port for connection to a suctionmechanism, means for applying suction to said chamber from said suctionmechanism. during flow or" air outwardly through said additional port, arotor in. said chamber having connection to 9, supply line fordischarging air successively into said ports and u another connectionfor exhausting said ports to the atmosphere, said chamber having a blankwall portion between said additional port and the first inflation port,means for rotating said rotor step by step to connect it in successionwith said ports, and means for detaining said rotor temporarily at saidblank wall portion to accumulate air in the supply line beforedischarging to the first inflation port after the suction operation.

Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from inflatableelements, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber having circumferentially spaced ports for communication with the inflatable elements andan additional port for connection to atmosphere, a rotor in said chamherhaving connection to a supply line for discharging aits successivelyinto said ports and another connection for exhausting said ports to theatmosphere, said chamber having a blank wall portion between saidadditional port and the first inflation port, means for rotating saidrotor step by step to connect it in succession with said ports, andmeans for detaining said rotortemporarily at said blank wall portion toaccumulate air in the supply line before discharging to the firstinflation port after the discharge to atmosphere.

5. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from an inflatableelement, said apparatus comprising a valve chamber having a connectingport for communicating with said element, an air supply port and adischarge port, a single movable valve member in said chamber having apassage open at all positions of movement to said supply port andadapted by movement of the valve member to be connected in succession toone of said connecting and discharge ports and disconnected from theother said port, means for moving said valve member, and means at saiddischarge port and in communication with said connecting port fordeveloping suction at said connecting port upon discharge of air underpressure from said rotor through said discharge port.

6. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from an inflatableelement, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber having a connectingport for connection to the inflatable element, an inlet port, and anoutlet port, a single rotor in said chamber having a passage thereinopen at all positions of rotation to said inlet port and adapted byrotation to be connected in succession to one of said connecting andoutlet ports and disconnected from the other said port. means forrotating said rotor, and means at said. outlet Port in communicationwith the said connecting port for developing suction at the connectingport upon discharge of air under pressure from the rotor through saidoutlet port.

7. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from an inflatableelement, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber having a. port in theperiphery of said chamber for connection to the inflatable element, arotor mounted for rotation in said chamber, said rotor being clear ofthe periphery of said chamber throughout a substantial extent thereofproviding a chamber space about the rotor, and said rotor having aportion extending to the periphery of the chamber which portion isapertured to commurucate with the interior of the rotor, means forconducting air under pressure to the interior of said rotor, means forrotating the rotor to bring the apertured portion thereof in alignmentwith said port for inflation of the element and to move the rotor awayfrom such alignment to a position in which said chamber space is incommunication with said port, and means rendered operable at the lastsaid position of the rotor to apply suction to said chamber space andrendered inoperable to apply suction to said space at other positions ofthe rotor.

3. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from inflatableelements, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber, a rotor mounted forrotation in said chamber, means for rotating said rotor step by step inangular increments, said rotor being clear of the periphery of saidchamber throughout a substantial extent thereof providing a chamberspace about the rotor and said. rotor having a, portion extending to theperiphcry of the chamber which portion is apertured to communicate withthe interior of said rotor, means for conducting air under pressure tothe interior of said rotor, a plurality of ports at the periphery ofsaid chamber in a position to communicate successively with theapertured portion of said rotor at positions of said rotor, some 01'said ports being arranged for connection to inflatable elements, andmeans at another of said ports for applying suction by way of saidchamber space to all of said ports arranged for connection to inflatableelements upon discharge of air through the other said port by alignmentof said apertured portion of said rotor therewith.

9. Apparatus 10r controlling the flow of air to and from inflatableelements, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber having acircumferential series of ports for connection to inflatable elements,and an additional port clrcumferentially spaced therefrom, a rotormounted for rotation in said chamber, said rotor being clear of theperiphery of said chamber throughout a substantial extent thereofproviding a chamber space about the rotor adapted to communicate withsaid series of ports, and said rotor having a portion extending to theperiphery of the chamber which portion is apertured to communicate withthe interior of the rotor, means for conducting air under pressure tothe interior of said rotor, means for rotating said rotor step by stepto bring the apertured portion thereof in aligmnent with individualports of said series and with said additional port in succession, andmeans rendered operable at said additional port when said rotor has itsaperture aligned therewith to apply suction to said chamber space andrendered inoperable to apply suctionto said space at other positions ofsaid rotor.

10. Apparatus for controlling the flow of air to and from inflatableelements, said apparatus comprising a rotor chamber having acircumferential series of ports for connection to inflatable elements,and an additional port circumferentiallyspaced therefrom, a rotormounted for rotation in said chamber, said rotor being clear of theperiphery of said chamber throughout a substantial extent thereofproviding a chamber space about the rotor adapted to communicate withsaid series of ports, and said rotor having a portion extending to theperiphery of the chamber which portion is apertured to communicate withthe interior of the rotor, means vfor conducting. air under pressure tothe interior of said rotor, means for rotating said rotor step by stepto bring the apertured portion thereof in alignment with individualports of said series and with said additional port in succession, andmeans rendered operable at said additional port when said rotor has itsaperture aligned therewith to applying suction to said space at the timesaid rotor is in alignment with said additional port.

' WILLSON H. HUNTER.

